Singapore Government Deploys RSAF Aircraft to Deliver Urgent Aid for Gaza

Singaporeans have contributed a total of more than S$7 million in cash and in-kind donations to support relief efforts in Gaza. Singaporeans feel deep compassion for victims of the war and have responded with heartfelt generosity. In view of the urgent need for aid, the Singapore Government has deployed a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft to deliver life-saving supplies for civilians in Gaza, while humanitarian supply lines remain open. An RSAF Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conveying humanitarian assistance departed from Changi Air Base (East) for Egypt in the early hours of 30 November 2023.

This package comprises medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, blankets, sanitation items, water filters and food from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and Relief Singapore. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had engaged the Egyptian Red Crescent to determine which supplies were most needed. The SAF’s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) led efforts to coordinate and consolidate aid from participating agencies. This package is Singapore’s second tranche of humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad were at Changi Air Base (East) to send off the RSAF crew, along with the Egyptian Ambassador-designate to Singapore Ahmed Mostafa Abdelaal Mohamed, Singapore’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi and representatives from participating NGOs. Singapore’s Ambassador to Egypt Dominic Goh will witness the handover of the humanitarian package to the Egyptian Red Crescent upon arrival in Egypt.

Minister Balakrishnan said: “Singaporeans are deeply concerned for the civilians in Gaza who are facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to the war. We are grateful for the generous outpouring of support and fund raising by the Singapore Red Cross, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation, Mercy Relief, Relief Singapore and many other Singapore NGOs. The SAF is launching this special flight to deliver urgently needed medical and humanitarian supplies. We also extend our gratitude to the Government of Egypt and the Egyptian Red Crescent for their crucial support in facilitating the delivery of these essential supplies to the civilians in Gaza.”

SMS Zaqy said: “We are here to provide assistance through the RHCC and the RSAF to provide support to deliver the humanitarian aid package from here to Egypt, working together with partners such as the MFA, the MOH and our NGOs such as Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief and Relief Singapore. This is a testament of our strong linkages and our close collaboration between the NGOs and the Singapore Government… From there we will hand it over to the Egyptian Red Crescent who will deliver it to those in need in Gaza. I thank the RSAF servicemen and women who are providing support for this mission. I hope that they remain vigilant throughout the mission and we want them to come home safe and secure to their families and loved ones. I wish them all the best and mission success.”

The Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) Head of Global Engagement, Ms Rebekah Lim, said: “The Singapore Red Cross has been working closely with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAF’s Changi RHCC, the Egyptian Red Crescent and other humanitarian organisations to deliver relief assistance into Gaza. Besides sending relief supplies such as hygiene kits, food parcels and medical items in our initial tranches of support, I am glad that SRC is now able to deploy water filters through the humanitarian flight to Egypt coordinated by RHCC. We believe that these water filters will be very useful in providing clean drinking water for the civilians in Gaza, making most of the limited water supplies available. The situation on the ground is complex. It is only through the strong collaboration with the authorities and our humanitarian partners like ERC, that we are able to channel more humanitarian assistance to those in need within Gaza."

Singapore will continue to work closely with our humanitarian partners to offer additional assistance and support to the affected communities. We urge all parties to allow the immediate, safe, and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to affected civilians throughout Gaza.

.  .  .  .  .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

SINGAPORE

30 NOVEMBER 2023

Photo Caption: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad sent off the RSAF mission crew at Changi Air Base (East).

Photo Credits: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Photo Caption: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and SMS Zaqy Mohamad, along with Egyptian Ambassador-designate to Singapore Ahmad Mostafa Abdelaal Mohamed, Singapore’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi, senior Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Officers, and representatives from participating NGOs were present at Changi Air Base (East) to send off the RSAF mission crew.

Photo Credits: Ministry of Defence

.  .  .  .  .

TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN AT THE SEND-OFF OF SINGAPORE’S HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR GAZA, CHANGI AIR BASE (EAST)

Minister: Thank you all for being here late at night.

Over the last two months, Singaporeans have been deeply concerned with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as a result of the war. Singaporeans have been very generous. More than S$7 million has been raised, both in terms of funds as well as in-kind (donations). The first tranche of assistance was delivered earlier this month when Minister Maliki (Osman) went to Cairo, and the Singapore Red Cross handed over supplies, as well as funds that were raised by the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation, to the Egyptian Red Crescent.

This is the second tranche. The reason why there has been some urgency is because this is now day six of the humanitarian truce. We are all hoping that the truce will be extended, but we also know that the situation is dire and there is an urgent need for the assistance to be delivered as soon as possible. We are very grateful that the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) has enabled us to deliver this essential medical and humanitarian assistance quickly in this very narrow window. Without the assistance and support of the RSAF, this would not be possible. The contents of the package include medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, blankets, sanitation, water filters – the essentials of life.

We were very careful when we were arranging these to work with the Egyptian Red Crescent to make sure that these are supplies which are needed, relevant and directly helpful. On this note, again, I need to also express our appreciation to the Ministry of Health, Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and to Relief Singapore for coming forward and helping to assemble these essential life-saving equipment and supplies. The supplies will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent, who will then be responsible for physically transporting the supplies across into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

We send this as an expression of Singaporeans’ support, Singaporeans’ compassion for the innocent victims of this war. We also hope that the humanitarian truce will be extended, and ultimately, what we all hope for is that peace will prevail and that innocent lives will be protected. We will watch very closely how the situation evolves. But again, we are grateful to the RSAF, to all the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) in Singapore, and to the generous donors in Singapore. We send these tokens of our support, our care, our concern, and our compassion to our fellow human beings in Gaza.

.  .  .  .  .

REMARKS BY SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE MR ZAQY MOHAMAD AT THE SEND-OFF OF SINGAPORE’S HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR GAZA

SMS: MINDEF is closely monitoring the situation in Gaza and we are deeply concerned with the humanitarian situation, particularly for civilians affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is providing strong support for Singapore’s humanitarian aid to Gaza. We are here to provide assistance through the Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) and the RSAF to provide support to deliver the humanitarian aid package from here to Egypt, working together with partners such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and our Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief and Relief Singapore. This is a testament of our strong linkages and our close collaboration between the NGOs and the Singapore government. The RSAF is committing the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport flight to deliver the package to Egypt. 

From there we will hand it over to the Egyptian Red Crescent who will deliver it to those in need in Gaza. I thank the RSAF servicemen and women who are providing support for this mission

. I hope that they remain vigilant throughout the mission and we want them to come home safe and secure to their families and loved ones. I wish them all the best and mission success.

.  .  .  .  .